Ashamed by parent’s accents. I’m American!
Caroline Correia, Edina, MN Growing up 60 miles away from New York City in the 70s and 80s may as well have been 600 miles....
White people cause all the problems
Devin, Durham, NH It feels like you hear that more and more nowadays instead of specific people being the cause of these issues. Generalizing the...
It’s worse than you probably think
Amelia Ketzle, Carbondale, IL. I was at a Halloween party no more than two years ago, hosted by a girl I had lost touch with...
Don’t speak to me in Arabic.
Christine Abraham Santa Monica, CA My mom is ashamed to speak Arabic in public in this post-9/11 world.
Wait, why is your grandma Asian?
Ryan Flanagan, Mountain View, CA A friend in high school asked me this question after meeting my grandmother, who is Filipino. I grew up eating...
Did not choose to be Jewish
Sarah Elizabeth Rosen, Laguna Hills, CA. I did not choose to be Jewish. But, I have come to realize as I got older to appreciate...
Ashamed [race] is my first impression
Anonymous, Omaha, NE Whenever I meet someone new, my first impression is “they’re Black”, or “they’re Latino”. I get so many assumptions just based off...
Usually I’m ashamed to be white
Thomas Williamson, Cool Valley, MO Born the end of 1949, traveled throughout the country, changed schools every year, in D.C. when Dr. King was killed,...
Inequality caused by fear and ignorance.
Maureen P. Shindle, Mount Bethel, PA I was married to a Black man who had to sit in the back of the bus and stick...
I’m ashamed to be white.
Jason Zeller, San Diego, CA Even though my ancestors came to the United States after slavery was abolished and I am not aware of their...
Sometimes I’m ashamed to be white.
Doug Fraser, Roundup, MT What right do white people have to feel superior to any other race, since we have caused so much trouble for...
Ashamed that accomplished minorities surprise me.
Anonymous, Seattle, WA. No matter how liberal and progressive I might claim to be, no matter how many workshops I’ve been to or essays I’ve...
Studying slavery makes me feel ashamed.
Sam Henry, Ashville, NC. As a white male Social Studies teacher I always have a difficult time teaching slavery. From what I know about my...
Because I’m white, I feel ashamed.
Sadie Petersen Philadelphia, PA As a child, the streets of west Philadelphia were my playground. I loved going to school in the area and wouldn’t...
